The irony of the journals
The mother promises to give access to her journals to the daughter after she dies. Before her death, Diane tells Terry the location of her journals but reminds her that she can only access them after she dies. When Diane succumbs to breast cancer, Terry finds the journals at the exact place directed by her mother. Ironically, the journals are empty, and nothing is written inside! Consequently, Terry realizes that she has to be creative and finish her mother's work.
The paradox of age
The reader is astonished to come across while reading 'When Women Were Birds' is age fifty-four. Diane dies at age fifty-four, and Terry begins to fill her late mother's journals when she attains the age of fifty-four! Therefore, the same age factor is a dramatic paradox that shows the author's creativity and ability to excel.
The satire of historical shame
Women are historically painted as weak and inferior to men. For instance, the author reminds readers that women are historically ashamed of their inabilities. Ironically, women's inability is an illusion that can be easily deleted and write a new history proving that given equal opportunities, women are capable of exploiting their potential.
The irony of death
Death remains a satire in the entire text because it is unexplainable that Diane dies at the peak of her potential, but she fails to accomplish her dreams. Diane has breast cancer, and she dies at the age of 54. Fortunately, Terry takes over and exploits the private thoughts of her mother by filling all the empty journals.
